Tag Archives: Puritan

These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER, AND OF THE SEED by Thomas Taylor (1576-1632)

Those must needs fall off who never received the Word purely, for itself, but for other sinister respects; as either of glory and praise, if they see the profession in credit; or for profit, so long as they may gather with Christ and be gainers by him: they would stand on Mount Tabor with Christ, and while he is in his glory, Oh it is good being here: but are loth to go with him to Mount Calvary. Or they receive it only so far as may stand with their ease, delicacy, and slothfulness, but will put themselves to no hardness at all. Now all these that love themselves better than their Religion, must needs fail when the ends fail that put them on their profession. He that professeth for praise of men, when the world, being inconstant, withdraws her applause, he is gone: God’s Word shall have no further credit with him, than it hath from men.

In this lesson the conversation is continued between Faithful and Christian. Faithful recounts his interaction with Adam the First, Moses, Discontent, and then they both encounter Talkative. It includes an introduction to Jonathan Edwards on The Religious Affections, what are NOT signs that a person has holy affections.

This book is recorded – {narrated} from the title Spiritual Desertion with the kind permission of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society. www.dutchreformed.org It is the narrator’s opinion that it is unequaled regarding the subject that it treats. The opinion is based on the use of the spiritual/clinical terms that are not even employed in our day. (1) because the relation of Christian experience is often more superficial (2) if the distressed is even asked to delineate them at all – often the feelings are suppressed or there is little patience to deal with these subjects at this level. (3) because the best authors are understood and quoted by this author from a bygone day that even though now are available on line are rarely consulted with the patience that is required to read the old English. Special thanks to Reformation Heritage Books and my dear friends David Woolin, and Dr. Joel Beeke as well.

O how impotent and poor-spirited is a soul void of this heavenly hope ! What a tame slave has Satan of him! He is the footstool for every base lust to trample upon. He allows the devil to ride him whither be pleases without wincing. No puddle so filthy, but Satan may draw him through with a thread: the poor wretch is well enough contented with his ignoble servitude, because he knows no better master than him he serves, nor better wages than the swill of his sensual pleasures, which his lusts allow him…

From Gouge’s massive commentary on Hebrews. It is my hope to narrate all of the warning passages in the coming year as I did Owen’s commentary on Hebrews in the previous years. Gouge’s commentary was published by his son in 1655.

Though faith be a difficult work above our power, yet God commands us to use our utmost endeavors to believe. The reason why God commands us so to do, and how the infinite power of God in working faith, and our own endeavors, are very well consistent together. Discouragements removed, which may arise either from our own inability to believe, or from the sense of our great sinfulness, or from the thoughts of an absolute decree of election,
resolving to save only some particular persons.

The Geneva Bible is one of the most historically significant translations of the Bible into English, preceding the King James translation by 51 years. It was the primary Bible of 16th century English Protestantism. (Wiki)